The Journey of the Nation – Three part article

By: Gerry Loughran – Nation Media -Excerpt-

The commitment to African majority rule was no accident. Back in 1957, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims worldwide, had been talking with young African nationalists such as Tom Mboya and Julius Kiano about what lay in Kenya’s future. The Aga Khan assumed leadership of his community at the age of 20 on the death of his grandfather. Having lived in a Nairobi suburb as a boy, his association with the country was no accident. This young man was well aware that most newspapers in East Africa tended to be mouthpieces of the colonial governments, denying any platform for the aspirations of upcoming African politicians. Believing they were entitled to a full say in the independence debate, he determined to start a newspaper that would be open to all voices. The Aga Khan’s media aide at the time was Michael Curtis, a former editor of the News Chronicle in London, and it was he who became the architect of a group which grew eventually to dominate the East and Central African publishing market.

Read at http://www.nationmedia.com/journey_the_nation_60_69.html
http://www.nationmedia.com/journey_the_nation_70_79.html
http://www.nationmedia.com/journey_the_nation_80_89.html

Best Wishes to the “Daily Nation” from a Vagabond Reporter

Interesting anecdotes and photographs by former Daily Nation journalist in the 60s, Bill Fairbairn.

My name is Bill Fairbairn and I arrived in Nairobi looking for a newspaper job in 1964…….with my resume I went across to the Daily Nation office and they told me to sit down at the editing desk to show them what I could do.

Michael Curtis and Jack Beverley hired me on a two-year contract on the spot. I was soon enjoying my work on the Nation but disturbed by its biblical slogan The truth will set you free on the front page. His Highness, The Aga Khan, to my delight a few months later sent a memo from his office urging the slogan’s removal from his newspaper

Read more: http://simerg.com/about/voices-best-wishes-to-the-daily-nation-from-a-vagabond-reporter/

What is free media? | The New Times Rwanda

Op-Ed: By Joseph Rwagatare

-Excerpt- On March, 18, 2010, His Highness The Aga Khan provided what, for me, was a very useful definition of what a responsible and useful media should be.

He was speaking in Nairobi at the conference to mark the 50 anniversary of the Nation Media Group on the theme: Media and the African Promise. His words carry weight. He is the owner of the Nation Media Group, without doubt East Africa’s most successful media group.

He was also reflective, perhaps because he was looking at the last fifty years of NMG and charting its future.

The Aga Khan said the goal of the media in the future should be “an Africa in which both goverments and the media respect their appropriate roles.”

He then went on to define what the role for the media is.

via The New Times – Rwandas First Daily :: Issue 14215 :: What is free media?.

Daily Nation: Reflections on the past, challenges for the future

The Aga Khan honours the longest serving Nation distributor from Kisumu Mr Abdul Ibrahim and his wife Zarin Daya

Nation Media Group Director GERARD WILKINSON, takes us back to early days of the newspaper

I first arrived in Nairobi in July 1971, three weeks after my wife, Anna, and I had married in her home town in Italy. The previous November, living in Ireland and employed at the country’s leading media group, I had spotted an advertisement in the appointments section of the UK’s Sunday Times.

Thus, still in our 20’s, Anna and I set foot in Kenya for the first time, a country which was to be our home for close on eight years — but a country with which I would, as a director of the group, maintain an on-going association for close on forty years.

More: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Reflections

Four part documentary: Nation Media Group’s 50 year journey

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CC0C3D93951EC400

New media school’s initial campus set for Nairobi in 2011 – The East African

-Excerpt- According to Aga Khan University President Firoz Rasul, the school will strive to attract a vibrant intellectual community, anchored by a core of committed media professionals and scholars of diverse backgrounds and expertise and enriched by visiting, adjunct and exchange faculty members.

“Initially, its core faculty will together possess critical areas of expertise, including excellence in journalistic practice, media ethics, law and social responsibility, media management, media and global and societal issues,” Mr Rasul said, adding, “The school will cultivate and maintain a dynamic adjunct and visiting faculty cohort through partnerships with academic institutions across Africa and globally, drawing on the diverse array of international and regional media professionals based in Nairobi.”

It will further focus on reaching rural and marginalised communities, according to Nazeer Ladhani, the director of the School.

“The school will achieve this by providing a sustainable institutional platform for strengthening wider media ecosystems in East Africa and more broadly in the developing world,” he told The EastAfrican.

via The East African - New media school’s initial campus set for Nairobi in 2011.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/Education/-/688336/883864/-/11251ed/-/

PICTURES from Pan Africa media conference

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/882024/-/vrr6xs/-/index.html
http://allafrica.com/photoessay/Pan_African_Media_Summit_in_Kenya

When ‘Nation’ told Kenyatta No — and changed course of Kenya’s history

The history of Nation and that of Kenya is closely intertwined. In this first instalment of the newly-published book, BIRTH OF A NATION: The Story of a Newspaper in Kenya, the author discloses for the first time how Mzee Kenyatta’s bid to control the media house was politely but firmly rejected.

When the $3 million Serena Hotel in Nairobi was opened on 16 February 1976, there came a moment when four men found themselves together: the president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta; the leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims worldwide, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan; and two Kenyan businessmen, Udi Gecaga and Ngengi Muigai.

More: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/

Another video report of Nation Media Group’s 50 year Celebrations

With additional footage from PAN Africa Media Conference dinner.

Earlier related

Video: Celebration to mark the 50th year of Nation Media Group

Nation media group staff were treated to a sumptuous breakfast as Celebrations to mark 50 years continued. Long serving members of staff were also awarded at the function held at the KICC by His Highness the Aga Khan.

Related: NMG honours long-serving employees | http://www.nation.co.ke
Related

Video: His Highness the Aga Khan addresses the Pan-Africa Media Conference

Nairobi, Kenya, 18 March 2010 – His Highness the Aga Khan today announced the establishment of the Aga Khan University Graduate (AKU) School of Media and Communications.

http://www.akdn.org/videos_detail.asp?VideoId=90

Related Material:
Aga Khan Announces New Graduate School of Media and Communications at Pan-Africa Media Conference in Nairobi

Special Supplement published by Nation Media Group to commemorate 50th Anniversary

13.2 MB PDF file (right-click, save), may take long to download.
http://www.nation.co.ke/blob/view/-/881672/data/144691/-/x5jca8/-/50years+supplement.pdf

Article: A half century of the Daily Nation

By Karim H Karim

True to its mission of helping the newly independent country discover its civic voice, it also employed many African journalists. The paper was soon to be edited and managed by African staff. Readers noticed the difference in style and content, and the Nation emerged as the most popular daily in Kenya. However, reaching out to a mass readership did not mean that journalistic standards were compromised.

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/962/A-half-century-of-the-Daily-Nation

Foreword by His Highness the Aga Khan for the Daily Nation 50th Anniversary special supplement

18 March 2010

After 5 decades, the future depends on ability to adapt By His Highness the Aga Khan (Reprinted from a foreword to the Daily Nation 50th Anniversary special supplement)

As the Nation Media Group (NMG) marks its 50th anniversary, it would be too limiting to perceive this occasion as a mere milestone in a history of a media organization, no matter how successful. The Nation’s path has been closely entwined with the history of Kenya, East Africa, and the entire continent during a period filled with momentous developments

Continue http://www.akdn.org/Content/982/
Related

At 50, NMG affirms media freedom goal | Daily Monitor

His Highness the Aga Khan confers with Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai as Kenyan PM Raila Odinga looks on in Nairobi.

The Nation Media Group (NMG) began celebrations to mark 50 years with a firm commitment to remain focused on independent news coverage.

The group’s founder, His Highness the Aga Khan, told the Pan African Media Conference in Nairobi on Thursday that he started off in 1960 with the belief that newly-independent African nations would thrive well where there was an independent media. He holds the same belief for the future.

“News media that sought independence, generally speaking, had a difficult life,” said the Aga Khan.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/882344/-/wjqv43/-/index.html

Video Preview: His Highness the Aga Khan at PAN Africa Media Conference – 50 years celebrations

Speech text: http://www.akdn.org/Content/980
or here

Related Nation Media Celebrations, with more excerpts

AKDN Photographs from Pan African Media Conference

Nairobi, Kenya, 17 March 2010

http://www.akdn.org/photos_show.asp?Sid=160

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Daily Nation

Nairobi, 18 March 2010 — His Highness the Aga Khan announced the establishment of a new Graduate School of Media and Communications today, which will be part of the Aga Khan University (AKU) in East Africa.

The University is undergoing a major expansion in the region, and the School will be an integral component of East Africa’s first regional university. AKU is establishing a new purpose-built principal campus in Arusha, Tanzania, with additional campuses in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

More here, related coverage, photographs and speech at the AKDN website, and more information at the Pan-African Media Conference website.

Vision for Africa | Daily Nation

Africa’s economic future and the challenge of uniting people and nations drew eminent politicians and scholars into a historic public debate in Nairobi on Thursday.

They examined the role of a free Press in Africa, debated the path to regional integration and spoke out on the continent’s quality of leadership as the curtain rose on the Nation Media Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

via Nation.co.ke.

Aga Khan University diversifies courses to include journalism – Business Daily

The Aga Khan University is to launch a graduate school of media and communications in Nairobi to offer specialised training to journalists, the institution’s founder, His Highness the Aga Khan, said on Thursday.

The move will widen the range of subjects offered by the institution, diversifying from its primary focus on health sciences and education.

The plan to open the school next year has not only raised hopes of increased opportunities for enhancing skills and qualifications of people working in East Africa’s media industry…

More Business Daily - Aga Khan University diversifies courses to include journalism.

Video Report: About Nation Media Group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdFAtg4KGcE

Summary of Opening Ceremony – PAN Africa Media Conference

Summary of His Highness the Aga Khan’s speech at page 10 (pdf file)
https://www.panafricamedia2010kenya.com/conference_assets/press_release/openingceremony.pdf

PAN African Media Conference kicks off in Nairobi

March 18 2010 – The Pan African Conference got underway on Thursday in Nairobi, attracting an attendance of media experts and political leaders in discussing the role of media in an African democracy.

Chief guest President Kibaki set the pace with an acknowledgement on “the advent of citizen journalism has become possible because of tools such as SMS, blogs and social networking websites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Myspace.”

The President challenged the conference to examine how new media can be used to deepen democracy on the African continent, in fighting the vices of corruption and nepotism, and in addressing the environmental challenges Africa must deal with due to the effects of climate change.

Nation Media Group founder The Aga Khan announced plans to establish anew Graduate School of Media and Communications that will be based in East Africa.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews
Pictures: http://www.nation.co.ke/News
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp

http://www.akdn.org/Content/978

PAN Africa Media Conference 2010 – Programme

https://www.panafricamedia2010kenya.com/programme.html

His Highness the Aga Khan meets President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya

March 17 2010 – The Government is steadfast in supporting and facilitating development programmes aimed at benefiting and empowering Kenyans economically, President Mwai Kibaki has re-affirmed.

President Kibaki gave the assurance when he met and held discussions with The Aga Khan who paid a courtesy call at his Harambee House Office.

The President said the Government recognises and appreciates the substantial economic impact created by diverse programmes implemented in various parts of the country under the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

http://www.nation.co.ke/News – http://www.kbc.co.ke -
http://www.apanews.net – http://www.afriqueavenir.org – http://allafrica.com